GRADBRIDGE CELEBRATES OPENING OF NEW DELAWARE HEADQUARTERS WITH STATE AND LOCAL LEADERS

Fintech's New Newark Headquarters Marks Major Milestone in Company's Growth, Creates Home For Up To 50 Employees

WILMINGTON, Del., Nov. 5, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- GradBridge, the fintech company focused on second-look private student lending, celebrated the official opening of its new headquarters at Newark's Iron Hill Corporate Center on Wednesday, Nov. 4, 2026, with a ribbon-cutting ceremony attended by state, local, business, and community leaders along with members of the GradBridge team.

The opening of the 9,321-square-foot headquarters at 750 Prides Crossing marks a significant milestone for the Delaware-founded, venture-backed fintech, which launched its first-of-its-kind private student lending platform in March 2026. GradBridge announced in June of this year its plan to create 49 new, full-time, salaried and benefit-eligible roles over the next five years as it expands its operations to help more students nationwide overcome financial barriers to completing their education. The company has recently added nine, full-time employees, bringing the total team count to 19, including six contractors.

"Delaware has a longstanding reputation of being a leader in the financial services industry, this opening builds on that by growing our innovation economy and attracting fintech investment," said Delaware Secretary of State Charuni Patibanda-Sanchez. "GradBridge's decision to establish and grow its headquarters here reflects the business environment we've created, and the confidence companies have in Delaware as a place to innovate, invest, and create good quality jobs."

GradBridge team members and their families, advisors, and investors also joined for the event that included remarks from GradBridge Founder and CEO Jen O'Donald, New Castle County Executive Marcus Henry, and GradBridge Board Member Paul Thome. Following the ceremony, attendees toured the new headquarters and participated in an open house.

"Every student deserves the opportunity to pursue their ambitions, and financial circumstances shouldn't be the only thing standing in the way," said New Castle County Executive Marcus Henry. "GradBridge recognized a need and built a business around helping address it. That's the kind of innovation and entrepreneurial spirit we want to see in New Castle County. We're excited to welcome their team and look forward to watching them grow here."

"Less than two years ago, GradBridge was just an idea. Since then, we've turned that vision into reality, launching an innovative lending platform, building a talented team, and now opening our new headquarters," said GradBridge Founder and CEO Jen O'Donald. "Having received my own education in Delaware and spent more than 25 years in the state's financial services industry, I'm especially proud to be building a company that creates meaningful career opportunities, contributes to Delaware's growing fintech community, and helps students across the country achieve their educational goals."

GradBridge invested more than $290K with six local contractors and suppliers to build out the new space that includes offices, shared workspaces, conference rooms, and a pantry. The headquarters office will house executive leadership, finance, compliance, credit, data and analytics, and management operations.

Founded by veteran student lending executives, GradBridge is addressing a significant gap in higher education financing. Each year, more than 1 million students are declined for private student loans because they fall just outside traditional credit approval criteria. GradBridge's second-look lending approach considers academic progress alongside traditional credit factors to help identify creditworthy upperclassmen and graduate students who demonstrate strong potential for degree completion.

"At GradBridge, we believe a student who is making progress toward a degree deserves a meaningful opportunity to finish," added O'Donald. "Our new headquarters gives us a strong foundation for the next phase of our growth, and we're grateful to Governor Meyer, New Castle County Executive Marcus Henry, Delaware Prosperity Partnership and the many partners who have supported us along the way. This celebration is about more than opening an office. It's about building a company that creates opportunity for our employees, our community, and the students we serve."

For more information about GradBridge and its second-look private student lending program, visit gradbridge.com.

About GradBridge
GradBridge is a fintech company focused on second-look private student lending designed to transform how students access the funding they need to graduate. Founded by veteran student loan executives, GradBridge provides a first-of-its-kind, student lending approach for upperclassmen and graduate students who are making academic progress but narrowly miss approval from traditional lenders. With a mission to close the gap between ambition and opportunity, GradBridge transforms loan denials into graduation success stories, unlocking long-term financial independence and brighter futures. Learn more at gradbridge.com.

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SOURCE GradBridge